Northampton dropped out of the League Two play-off positions after being held to a 0-0 draw by Torquay.
Stalemate sees Northampton drop out of play-off picture
Ian Sampson's Northampton dropped out of the League Two play-off positions after being held to a 0-0 draw by Torquay.
Windy conditions reduced quality football to a premium at Sixfields but the travelling Gulls could be satisfied with a point that took them a step closer to safety, as the Cobblers endured a frustrating afternoon in front of their biggest home crowd of the season.
The visitors had the best chances in the first half and almost went ahead with a near-post header from Scott Rendell in the 16th minute which flashed across the goalmouth. An almighty scramble from a Kevin Nicholson corner also eventually saw skipper Nicky Rowe fire straight at Jason Steele.
Mustapha Carayol tested Steele in the 34th minute with a curling effort from 20 yards but the home side responded after the break with the wind in their favour.
Liam Davis saw his 35-yard volley clip the top of the crossbar in the 53rd minute and almost instantly substitute Steve Guinan, on for top scorer Adebayo Akinfenwa, drilled a shot straight at Scott Bevan.
Northampton stepped up their efforts in the closing stages but Davis saw his shot tipped around a post by Bevan, while Peter Gilbert's 25-yard stinger proved too hot to handle for the Torquay goalkeeper but the Gulls cleared their lines.
